Arch-supporter.



M. GOLDEN.

`ARCH SUPPORTER.'

APPLICATION min Nov. 21. 1915.

Patented Aug, 14, 1917.

f77/12641 Meze 60mm,

nELnTIos GOLDEN, or BosToN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ARCH-SUPIORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application 1ed November 27,1915. Serial No. 63,883.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MELETios GOLDEN, a subject of the King of Greece, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arch-Supporters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specication.

The object of this invention is the construction of an insole and arch supporter by means of which not only will the arch of the foot be given a resillent support, but the entire foot will be kept from accumulatin moisture. It is this moisture thrown offg by the feet and condensed and kept from escaping lby the practically impervious leather of the shoes, which I have discovered to be responsible for much, if not for the larger part, of the weaknesses and pains' to which so many feet are subject.

J ust why the moisture in the shoes is thus objectionable is somewhat difficult to determine, but it apparently is owing to the fact otherwisel noted that the action of Warm water upon muscles is to render the same lax and weak. Consequently the weakening of the muscles of the feet by their constant envelopment in a comparatively warm moisture causes them so to relax as to permit the feet to flatten and the consequent distortion of the nerves to entail suffering.

In the course ofv my experimentation, I have discovered that a piece of marine sponge located beneath the footwill absorb nearly all the moisture in the shoe and keep e same practically dry, and that a simple chemical treatment of the sponge will cause it to take .care of all traces of dampness. The chemical which I prefer to employ for this purpose is boric acid, and in addition some form of deodorizer.

Referring to the drawings forming part of thisaspecificatiom Figure l is a plan view of my combined insole and arch supporter. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section thereof on the line X-X in Fig. 1.

The foundation of the insole is a layer of cork 1 fitting the sole of the shoe and having its natural grain lengthwise thereof. Upon this cork layer is cemented a sheet of rubber fabric 2a section 3 of which is .heavily thickened and arched, as shown in forations cutting through both in alinement 1n order to permit the ready passage of air through them.

Within the arched space 5 is inserted a piece of marine sponge 6 pressed rather tightly therein. Before its introduction, the sponge is impregnated with boric acid or other dehydrating, purifying and deodorizlng preparation.`

As shown in Fig. 3, the higher side of the arch 5 is provided with a flap 7 designed to be fastened at its lower edge to the cork insole after the sponge has been inserted. The simplest fastening means consists of a pin or two -9 having a flat head 10 and stuck through the flap into the edge of the insole l parallel with the top and bottom'surfaces thereof. After the insole and arch supporter has been the shoes upper holds the pins from coming'out. l Y

The edges of the rubber sheet 2 are formed with downturned portions ll designed to be cemented to the edges of the cork and therebyto assure the4 retention of the sheet in place thereon.

After this arch supporter has been worn in the shoe for a. considerable period, or

until it is imagined that its efficience has become impaired, it may be removed, its flap unfastened'and the pieceof spongereplaced by a fresh one. If desired, the old sponge may be washed, impregnated with the chemicals above recited and used again.

In use, the perforations through the corkand rubber sheet permit free circulation of air about the foot,-wh`ile every compression and following expansion of thel sponge as the wearer walks, acts in much the same manner as a pump` to inhale and exhale air and to circulate the same about the foot. Any moisture carried in( this air is immedi'ately absorbed as it enters the sponge, and leaves the latter dry and. free from moisture, and also free from any odor which so many feet exhale.

Other materials, as curled hair, rubber sponge and the like may be used to ill the space 5, but they Awould wholly fail in the` accomplishment of the moisture-absorption which is performed by sponge taken from the ocean, or marine sponge as I prefer to call it. .l

Although I have spoken of this insole as an arch su porter, it is in actuality much morethan t at, being'a means for the dehyput into a shoe, the pressure of dration of the atmosphere ysurrounding the foot, and hencea meansfor relieving the cause of foot troubles.

What I claim is:

1. An insole comprising a sheet of perforated cork, a sheet of rubber fabric cemented to the cork, the intermediate section of the rubber' being thickened and arched, and a piece of marine sponge located in the space beneath the arched section.

2. An insole comprising a sheet of perforated cork, a sheet of perforated rubber cemented to the cork, the intermediate section of the rubber being thickened and arched, one side of the latter being higher than the other and having aflap adapted to be fastened at its free edge to the cork, and a iece'of marine sponge inserted in the space beneath the arched section.

3. An arch supporter comprising a body of soft rubber convex` on its upper surface' to t the arch of a foot,`and concaved in its under surface to allow a substantial space between it and the sole of the shoe, the said body being supported by said sole along a line beginning in front of the concavity at the inner side of the foot, and passing around said concavity to the outer part of the foot, and thence to the rear of the concavity at the inner side of the foot, thereby leaving a lateral opening at vthe inner side of the foot, the uppermostvportion of said rubber body being made thick and strong and wedging down therefrom to said line of contact, whereby a moderate pressure of the arch of the foot is resisted by said arch supporter, but it can resiliently yield to increased pressures and thereby cause a circulation of air about the foot.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of November, 1915.

MELETIOS GOLDEN.

Witness A. -B. UPHAM. 

